Contents

Background

Employing a set of twin articulated jet engines as propulsion in place of the classic rotary wing, the ORCA has incredible maneuverability. These advantages came at the expense of armour, allowing the Orca to withstand only a few missile hits, provided it didn't outrun these missiles first.

The craft is armed with two weapons - a six barreled, forward mounted gatling gun (equipped with a searchlight) and a pair of Dragon TOW missile launchers on its sides, each containing nine rockets. Some later models had two forward mounted machine guns. Be advised, the gun is somewhat inoperable in game.

Its compact design allows it to fit in small passages such as canyons with ease, as well as be transported and deployed from freight trucks or specially designed resupply and transportation trucks. The fuselage dimensions limit the crew size to only a single pilot, limiting the craft's performance in combat somewhat.

Legacy

While it had its drawbacks, the design proved so effective during the First Tiberium War, that it served as a basis for GDI's air forces design up to the Third Tiberium War. It was found to be particularly effective against NodM2 Bradleys and buggies, as they had no anti aircraft capability.

Deployments

The following is based on the Nod campaign of Tiberian Dawn and some details might contradict canon.

Nod acquired the Orca during the Campaign in Africa, taking over a test facility - however, due to the engines emitting too much heat and being extremely vulnerable to IR tracking missiles, and the costs associated with fuel, Nod chose not to produce the Orca. However, they did keep the blueprints after their assault.[1]

In-game

The Orca is GDI's airborne unit in Tiberian Dawn, flying at high speeds and outfitted with rockets.

Cut Content

Initially, there was a special mobile helipad to appear in the game, but it was cut.

Trivia

In the opening cutscene for the Nod mission, ORCA Theft, Seth mistakenly addressed the Orca as a "new helicopter". It is possible that the Orca's VTOL technology was so advanced for its time that it was widely perceived as a type of helicopter by Nod intelligence.

Assessment

Pros

Effective against vehicles and buildings

Very fast.

Powerful in numbers.

One of the best army harassment, lethal threat to harvesters if undefended

A synchronized attack from 4 Orca can destroy a SAM site in a single shot without taking any damage.